Anti-cheat deposit chute



2 Shets-Sheet 1 J. W. GORE, JR

ANTI-CHEAT DEPOSIT CHUTE Feb. 20, 1968 Filed June 1, 1965 I Joshua W. Gore, Jr.

INVENTOR.

BY W United States Patent 3,370,287 ANTI-CHEAT DEPOSIT CHUTE Joshua W. Gore, Jr., 8557 Forum Drive, Houston, Tex. 77055 Filed June 1, 1965, Ser. No. 460,068 8 Claims. (Cl. 340-281) ABSTRACT OF THE DISCLOSURE Unauthorized removal of items through a deposit chute from a depository is discouraged by an alarm. The alarm is triggered by sensing of articles passing from one location to another within the chute during an interval exceeding a delay period. The delay period is established when the article is sensed by one of a plurality of microswitches to cancel operation of the alarm if another switch is actuated before the delay period is terminated.

This invention relates to a depository and more particularly to facilities for deterring unauthorized entry or removal of articles from the depository.

It is therefore a primary object of the present invention to provide a system for use in connection with a depository chute whereby theft of articles from the depository is prevented whether it is perpetrated externally or internally of the premises in which the depository is mounted.

In accordance with the foregoing object, a depository constructed in accordance with the present invention will provide protection for both the depositor and the fiduciary agent collecting the envelopes or articles from the depository. The foregoing objects are achieved in accordance with the present invention by producing an alerting signal in the event unauthorized entry is attempted from outside the premises while a counting record is maintained of articles deposited so as to provide a basis for independent audit in order to thwart any unauthorized removal of articles after they have been deposited.

A still further object of the present invention is to provide a theft deterring system for depository chutes which requires a minimum of installational-eifort and maintenance and yet provides reliable service.

These together with other objects and advantages which will become subsequently apparent reside in the details of construction and operation as more fully hereinafter described and claimed, reference being had to the accompanying drawings forming a part hereof, wherein like numerals refer to like parts throughout, and in which:

FIGURE 1 is a perspective view of the externally exposed portion of a depository chute constructed in accordance with the present invention;

FIGURE 2 is a sectional view through the depository chute taken substantially through a plane indicated by section line 22 in FIGURE 1;

FIGURE 3 is a partial front plan view of the bottom wall associated with the depository chute; and

FIGURE 4 is an electrical circuit diagram pertaining to the system of the present invention.

Referring now to the drawings in detail, it will be observed from FIGURES 1 and 2, that the depository generally referred to by reference numeral is adapted to be mounted on the wall 12 of a buildingso that articles may be deposited during after hours for example in connection with banking operations. The depository includes therefore, a downwardly inclined chute generally referred to by reference numeral 14 having a bottom wall 16 on which a plurality of microswitch sensing devices are mounted in three vertically spaced rows 18, 20 and 22. The upper end of the chute 14 is therefore connected to an externally exposed face plate 24 which forms an "ice entrance opening 26 to the chute closed by the door 28. The door may therefore be pivotally mounted by the hinge 30 on the face plate and provided with a handle 32 for opening thereof when unlocked in order to permit insertion of articles such as envelopes containing bank deposits. The articles inserted into the chute 14 will therefore drop downwardly therethrough sliding along the bottom wall 16 and be collected within a receptacle (not shown) as the article emerges from the lower discharge end 34. Also mounted by the face plate 24, is an indicator lamp 36 which is arranged to be illuminated in order to indicate that the system of the present invention is in operating condition.

Referring now to FIGURES 2 and 3, it will be observed that the uppermost row 18 of microswitch devices is mounted by an angle member 38 horizontally disposed so as to mount the microswitch devices 40 in horizontallv spaced relation to each other. Each of the switch devices 40 is therefore secured in position to the projecting leg of the angle member 38 by means of an angle bracket 42 spaced from a slot 44 formed in the bottom wall so as to receive therethrough, a switch actuating arm 46 curved to project through slot 44 as shown in FIGURE 2. In a similar fashion, the microswitch devices 48 are mounted in horizontally spaced relation to each other in the second row 20 by the angle brackets 50 secured to the mounting angle member 52 disposed in parallel spaced relation below the angle mounting member 38. Each of the switch devices 48 is however disposed in staggered relation to the switch devices 40 in the uppermost row 18 and are provided with straight switch actuating arms 54 which extend at an angle into the depository chute through slots 56 as shown in FIGURE 2. The switch devices 58 within the lowermost row 22 are vertically spaced from the second row 20 by means of the mounting member 60 by an amount which is less than the vertical spacing between the two uppermost rows 18 and 20. The switch devices 58 Within the lowermost row are therefore horizontally spaced by the mounting brackets 62 in staggered relation to the switch devices in the other rows with the switch actuating arms 64 extending through slots 66 into the depository chute and having an angled portion projecting from the end 34 of the chute. It will therefore be apparent that any articles deposited into the chute 14 will slide downwardly along the bottom wall 16 and sequentially actuate at least one switch device within each row of switches 18, 20 and 22 before it emerges from the discharge end 34 of the chute.

If the system of the present invention is in operating condition as indicated by the lamp 36, any article inserted into the chute will set the system into operation when at least one of the switches in the two uppermost rows 18 and 20 is actuated. After the system is set into operation, should there be any excessive delay before at least one of the switches 58 in the lowermost row 22 is actuated, an alerting alarm signal will be produced. Accordingly, any attempt to retrieve any deposited articles through the chute 14 by controlled insertion of articles through the chute or withdrawal of articles through the chute, will produce a deterring alarm. Unauthorized entry into the depository from outside of the premises is thereby deterred. Also, when the system of the present invention is set into operation as hereinbefore indicated, a counter is pulsed in order to record the number of articles deposited. In this fashion, an independent audit may be made of the articles received to not only deter any unauthorized removal of articles by personnel within the premises, but to also avoid the necessity for a verifying witness when the contents of the depository is being processed.

Referring now to FIGURE 4, it will be observed that the system of the present invention is rendered operative by its connection to a source of electrical energy by the power lines 68 and 70 across which the indicator lamp 36 is connected in order to indicate the operating condition of the system when the electrical energy is available. All of the switches 40 and 48 within the two uppermost rows 18 and 20, are connected in parallel to the power line 70 so that upon closing of any of these switch devices, parallel circuits are completed through a counter 72 and a time delay mechanism including a signal responsive relay coil 74 and a slow operating relay coil 76. The counter 72 and the slow operating relay coil shunted by the capacitor 78, are therefore connected to the power line 68 and to the switches 40 and 48 through the conductor 80 while the signal responsive relay coil 74 is connected to the power line 68 through the normally closed relay switch 82 associated with a disabling relay coil 84. It will therefore be apparent, that upon closing of any one of the switch devices 40 and 48, the counter 72 will be pulsed while the signal responsive relay coil 74 will be energized to close a normally opened relay holding switch 86 and an alarm operating switch 88. Closing of the holding switch 86 will therefore maintain the relay coil 74 energized after one of the switches 40 or 48 is opened while closing of the relay switch 88 will maintain an energizing circuit for the slow operating relay coil 76. Should this energizing circuit remain closed for an excessive period of time, in excess for example of 3 seconds, the capacitor 78 will become fully charged and the relay coil 76 energized in order to close the normally opened relay switch 90. Closing of the relay switch 90 will complete an alarm circuit by connecting for example the alarm device 92 across the power lines 68 and 70. Thus, an alerting signal will be produced. It should of course be appreciated, that the relay switch 90 when closed could trigger operation of other alerting facilities including different types of signalling devices located adjacent to or remote from the depository.

Operation of the alarm device does not occur however under normal authorized use of the depository because at least one of the switches 58 in the lowermost row 22 will be actuated within the time delay interval associated with the slow operating relay coil 76. Closing of one of the switches 58 will connect the disabling relay coil 84 across the power lines 68 and 70 so that energization thereof will open the normally closed relay switch 82. Opening of the relay switch will interrupt the energizing circuit for the signal responsive relay coil 74 causing deenergization thereof before the slow operating relay coil 76 is energized to close the relay switch 90. De-energization of the relay coil 74 following opening of the switches 40 or 48, will therefore interrupt the energizing circuit for the relay coil 76 to prevent alarm operation.

From the foregoing description, the operation, utility and installation of the system of the present invention will be apparent. It will therefore be appreciated, that the system when it is in an operating condition as indicated by the lamp 36 will be set into operation whenever one of the switch devices 40 is actuated or one of the switch devices 48 should the article miss all of the switches within the uppermost row 18. Operation of the system will pulse the counter 72 as well as to begin the delay period during which operation of the alerting alarm is disabled if the article passes through the depository chute in a normal and authorized manner. Any excessive delay in the passage of the article through the chute as would be occasioned in an attempt to retrieve articles from the depository would trigger operation of the alerting alarm. The spacing between the uppermost and lowermost rows of microswitch devices is therefore dimensioned in accordance with the delay interval in order to precisely tailor the system so as to recognize only uncontrolled passage of articles through the depository chute. The spacing between the two uppermost rows and the staggered relationship of the switch devices therein is also arranged so as to insure that the system is triggered into operation and thereby not only condition the alarm device for operation but to also provide an accurate count of the articles received.

The foregoing is considered as illustrative only of the principles of the invention. Further, since numerous modifications and changes will readily occur to those skilled in the art, it is not desired to limit the invention to the exact construction and operation shown and described, and accordingly all suitable modifications and equivalents may be resorted to, falling within the scope of the invention as claimed.

What is claimed as new is as follows:

1. In combination with a depository having a chute through which articles pass, a plurality of switch devices mounted by said chute for sequential actuation by articles deposited therein, time delay means rendered operative in response to actuation of at least one of the switch devices, alarm means operatively connected to said time delay means for producing an alerting signal after elapse of a predetermined interval and in response to sequential actuation of another of said switch devices before elapse of said interval preventing actuation of said alarm means, whereby unauthorized removal of articles from the depository is prevented.

2. The combination of claim 1 wherein said time delay means comprises, a slow operating relay connected to said alarm means, a source of electrical energy, signal responsive means connected to said one of the switch devices for connecting said slow operating relay to the source of energy upon actuation of said one of the switch devices, and disabling relay means connected to said other of the switch devices for preventing operation of the slow operating relay.

3. The combination of claim 2 wherein said signal responsive means comprises, an instantaneously operating relay coil, a relay switch actuated by energization of the relay coil to connect said source to the slow operating relay, and relay holding means connected to the disabling relay means for maintaining the relay coil energized until disabled by the disabling relay means.

4. The combination of claim 3 wherein said chute includes a downwardly inclined wall on which the plurality of switch devices are mounted in at least three vertically spaced rows of horizontally spaced switches, the switches 1n each row being horizontally staggered relative to the switches in the other rows, the vertical spacing between said rows being greatest between the two uppermost rows, the switches in said two rows being connected to the signal responsive means and the switches in the lowermost row being connected to the disabling relay means.

5. The combination of claim 1 wherein said chute includes a downwardly inclined wall on which the plurality of switch devices are mounted in at least three vertically spaced rows of horizontally spaced switches, the switches in each row being horizontally staggered relative to the switches in the other rows, the vertical spacing between said rows being greatest between the two uppermost rows, said one of the switch devices being located in the two uppermost rows and said other of the switch devices being located in the lowermost row.

6. The combination of claim 5 wherein said time delay means comprises, a slow opera-ting relay connected to said alarm means, a source of electrical energy, signal responsive means connected to said one of the switch devices for connecting said slow operating relay to the source of energy upon actuation of said one of the switch devices, and disabling relay means connected to said other of the switch devices for preventing operation of the slow operating relay.

7. The combination of claim 1 including means rcsponsive to actuation of said one of the switch devices for counting each article passing through the chute.

8. In combination with a depository having a chute through which articles pass, a plurality of sensing devices positioned along said chute for sequentially sensing articles passing through the chute, an alarm disabling determined interval, and means responsive to sensing of the article by said disabling device before elapse of said interval for preventing said alarm means from producing said alerting signal.

References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS Konicek.

Perry.

Flagg 232-44 X Henry 20061.41 X Stidham 1944 Beede et a1. 23244 X Blake 20061.41

JOHN W. CALDWELL, Primary Examiner.

D. L. TRAFTON, Assistant Examiner. 

